The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-11-05
OYSTERS WITH BRAINS.
How tho Blvalvos Conduct Themselves
at Now Orleans.

From the New York Evening sun.
Frank g. Wheaton, who used TO be a
politician in New Orleans, but IL now
handler Of all sorts Of patents in this city,
tells the following story:
Eve used 10 have some great oyster
suppcrs in New Orleans. The oysters
when WIS there were ~ big that a dozen
would do for supper for half dozen
men. Come of The Bayou Cook and
bayou. BarmtaIia oysters were foot long,
OF course they wire too large 10 eat nav,
but they made an excellent fry. The best
oyster I ever ate came from tho edge Of the
gulf of Mexico, in the Mississippi sound,
and Lake Pontcbartrnin before the Bonnie
Carrie creyasse sent the fresh water Of the
Mississippi river out into the lake and de-
stroycd the flavor Of the bivalvcr. DO You
know that raccoons are exceedingly fond
OF oysters? Well, they are.
Zone moonlight night was standing on
the gallery Of the lighthouse at Cat island,
down near the gulf A party OF us were
ON our way 10 Goose point 10 hunt brant
and curlcw, and as We knew Sid Wilker-
son, the lighthouse keeper, we stopped
over nj Cat island one evening II was
beautiful night, and, though u was in De-
ccmbcr, man scarcely felt the need OF AN
overcoat. The tide was ut ebb, and Cat
island spit doomed up in the moonlight
like long, black strip Of mud running
into the sound. This spit. or promontory.
was mars Of oysters, which spultercd
and snapped M they took in the atmos-
phcW aud held social CONVERSE with each
other. You could walk out Quarter of n
mile over them without getting your feet
wet, and eat all You wanted That IL. II
you could open them, because just IA soon
NJ the oyster would SOC YOU he'd shut M
his shell with snap like the breaking Of
twig. II was like walking over dry
brush, the way those oysters would snap
at the approach OF any one.
Cat island IL full Of 'coons," continued
Mr.. Wheaton, taking n fresh start.
GLOW they got there don't know, M tho
island IN twelve miles from the nearest
point Of the mainland. I reckon they
voyagcd ON logs. Well, this night, while
We were standing on the gallery, NO saw
about dozen 'coons creep out ON the
spit, hunting for oystcr one old coon
sncakcd up behind a big oyster that had
his she'll wide open and stuck his paw in
to get the succulcnt biyalye. Quick as A
flash the oyster clappcd down ON him, and
the coon yelled. He'd bcun there before
though, and began TO tug at the oyster 20
GIT him loose from the mud and sand. but
the oyster WIS ono OF n cluster and WINS too
deeply imbcddcd 10 be moved. lie hung
10 the coon like grim death, and
Il looked ~ " the coon would be- kent
prisoner. We were ~ interested In the
struggle we stayed 90 watch IL. The side
turned, aud at 4 o'clock In the morning nll
the other 'coons. left the beach. as the
water WIS too high IL got higher and
higher, little wayyr wcr curling over tho
spit, and Il looked - though the coon
would be dOwDcf. lie made n last
desperate ciiort,tof move that oyster and
then deliberately bit his paw of. lie lcit
the end Of II in tho oyster and hobhlcd off
ON three legs. Sid aud ! ran down. and.
after n search 81 half on hour, found the
spunky oyster ~ be- was iryingto eject the
'coon's paw and captured him. Ireckon
that Sid has thai 'ooon-plw YETI